Written by Mr. Stephen Blake

September 2001

Vision 2001: Virginia's Transportation System for the 21st Century —
Part of the Jefferson Institute's "Campaign 2001 Briefing Book" supplied to all candidates, this paper explores the problems and offers creative solutions to Virginia's vexing transportation problem. A realistic long-term plan needs to be designed that prioritizes major projects and includes many alternatives other than what we are doing today. View PDF File.

August 1999

Taking the Politics Out of Planning: A New Statewide Model for Prioritizing Transportation —
This report provided to the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and its Commonwealth Transportation Alliance a model and methodology by which transportation projects can be prioritized in accordance with a set of value criteria. The model and methodology contained in the report provides eight (8) criteria for assessing the relative merits of a particular transportation project, allowing each area of the state to develop goals reflecting local desires but insisting that these goals be compatible with an overall statewide strategy for providing a comprehensive and efficient transportation system as cost-effectively as possible. Most importantly, the model can be used to compare the relative strengths and weaknesses of transportation projects in Virginia. View PDF File.

September 1997

Virginia's Transportation System for the New Millennium —
We cannot continue to rely on the funding and methodology used in the past to maintain an up-do-date transportation system for the future. Hampton Roads has one of the finest seaports in the world, but no major international airport to complement its services. Northern Virginia has world-class airports, but its highways are ranked among the worst in the country for their congestion. Roanoke has great economic potential, but Highway 81 needs expansion and a modern regional airport would be ideal. Virginia must promote and improve privatization, deregulation, intermodalism, planning and technological leadership to build a transportation system supporting future economic progress. View PDF File.